UNCLASSIFIED
DEFENCE
SERVICE CONDITIONS MESSAGE
ORIG No. PERS DSC
045/07
DTG: 240456Z SEP 07
SUBJ: ADF CONDITIONS OF SERVICE (COS)
– OPERATION ASTUTE
A. DEFENCE
SERVICE CONDITIONS MESSAGE PERS 070/06 DATED 070511Z
JUN 06
B.
PACMAN VERSION TWO – CHAPTER 17
SITUATION
1.
THE
MINDEF DECLARED SERVICE ON OP ASTUTE AS
NON-WARLIKE
FROM 12 MAY 06. THIS MESSAGE
REPRESENTS A CONSOLIDATION OF previous mESSAGEs INTO A SINGLE CURRENT OP ASTUTE
COS MESSAGE and replaces ref A.
OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA
2.
OP ASTUTE
specified area comprises East Timor and its territorial waters and superjacent
airspace
MISSION
3.
TO PROVIDE DETAILS OF THE COS FOR OP
ASTUTE.
4.
THIS MESSAGE IS TO BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH REF B.
ELIGIBILITY
5.
TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FOL COS, ADF PERS
MUST:
A. BE
ASSIGNED TO OP ASTUTE, AND
B. BE WITHIN THE
OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA.
6. ADF
PERS WHO ENTER THE SPECIFIED AREA BUT ARE NOT ASSIGNED FOR DUTY TO OP ASTUTE
ARE ENTITLED TO PEACETIME COS ONLY.
DEPLOYMENTS FOR LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
7.
PRE-DEPLOYMENT:
A.
PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE/TRAVEL. DEPLOYMENTS OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
DURATION DO NOT ATTRACT A PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE ENTITLEMENT. SOME
PROVISION EXISTS FOR SPECIAL CASES, SEE PACMAN V2-17.6.7.
8.
ON DEPLOYMENT:
A. REHABILITATION
AND COMPENSATION. SVC ON OP ASTUTE IS COVERED UNDER THE MILITARY
REHABILITATION AND COMPENSATION ACT.
B. TAXATION. MEMBERS
DEPLOYED ON OP ASTUTE MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR
EXEMPTION FROM AUSTRALIAN INCOME TAX UNDER SECTION 23AG OF THE ITAA.
SECTION 23AG IS A GENERAL PROVISION THAT EXEMPTS CERTAIN FOREIGN EARNINGS WHERE
YOU HAVE ENGAGED IN FOREIGN SERVICE FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF NOT LESS THAN 91
DAYS. ONCE QUALIFIED THE EXEMPTION APPLIES FROM THE FIRST DAY OF
DEPLOYMENT. IN THE ABSENCE OF QUALIFYING FOR A SECTION 23AG
EXEMPTION, MEMBERS MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO CLAIM THE S79B OVERSEAS DEFENCE FORCES
REBATE. THIS EQUATES TO AUD 338 PLUS 50 PERCENT OF ANY OTHER ENTITLED
REBATES PER ANNUM ON A PRO RATA BASIS.
C.
DEPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE (DA). IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE DECLARATION OF NON-WARLIKE SERVICE,
DA HAS BEEN APPROVED AT THE RATE OF DOLLARS EIGHTY FOUR CENTS FIFTEEN (AUD
84.15) PER DAY WEF 9 AUG 07. DA IS PAID FOR EACH DAY OR PART DAY OF
SERVICE IN THE OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA DEFINED AT PARA 2. THE ALLOWANCE IS PAYABLE FOR LEAVE ACCRUED INSIDE the OP
ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA. DA IS EXEMPT FROM INCOME TAX.
D. OTHER
ALLOWANCES. OTHER SALARY RELATED ALLOWANCES, INCLUDING SEPARATION,
FIELD, FLYING AND SEAGOING ALLOWANCE, ARE PAYABLE IAW NORMAL POLICY. (THAT IS,
PAID IF THE PRESCRIBED CONDITIONS FOR PAYMENT ARE MET).
E. MEALs
AND ACCN. IT IS ANTICIPATED THAT MEALS AND ACCN WILL BE PROVIDED AT
CWEALTH EXPENSE. MEMBERS WHO ARE REQUIRED TO PURCHASE THEIR OWN MEALS MAY
QUALIFY FOR THE PAYMENT OF TA (INCLUDING INCIDENTALS) IAW NORMAL POLICY.
MEMBERS ARE NOT LIABLE FOR CHARGES FOR MEALS AND ACCN PROVIDED IN THE OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA. ACCN
CONTRIBUTIONS FOR MWODS LIVING IN OR LIVING OUT WHO RETAIN ACCN IN AUSTRALIA
WILL BE WAIVED IAW NORMAL PROVISIONS.
F.
OTHER ALLOWANCES RELATING TO LONG AND SHORT-TERM non-operational DUTY
OVERSEAS ARE NOT PAYABLE.
G. adDITIONAL
RECREATION LEAVE (ARL) FOR NON-WARLIKE SERVICE. IN ADDITION TO BASIC
RECREATION LEAVE PERS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ARL FOR NWL SVC AT A RATE OF TEN DAYS
PER YEAR ON A PRO RATA BASIS INSIDE THE SPECIFIED AREA.
H. OTHER
LEAVE. FIELD LEAVE, FLYING LEAVE OR SEAGOING LEAVE MAY BE GRANTED IAW
PACMAN. PRIOR SERVICE NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN ASSESSING THE
AMOUNT OF LEAVE A MEMBER MAY ACCRUE IN THE OP ASTUTE SPECIFIED AREA. AS
MEMBERS DEPLOYED ON NON-WARLIKE OPERATIONS ARE IN RECEIPT OF DA AND ARL, ERL IS
NOT TO BE GRANTED FOR THE SAME PERIOD.
I.
RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY
TRAVEL FARES ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA). DEPLOYMENTS OF LESS THAN SIX MONTHS
DO NOT ATTRACT ROCTFA.
J.
cOMMUNICATIONS. ACCESS TO
TELEPHONE AND MAIL SERVICES IS NOT A COS. MEMBERS MAY BE PROVIDED THE
OPPORTUNITY TO TELEPHONE AUSTRALIA. THE FREQUENCY AND DURATION OF THESE
CALLS IS TO BE SET BY HQJOC.
K. HONOURS
AND AWARDS. INFORMATION
REGARDING MEDALS HAS BEEN ADVISED SEPARATELY.
DEPLOYMENTS FOR SIX MONTHS OR MORE
9.
THE FOLLOWING ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS
APPLY TO PERSONNEL DEPLOYING FOR SIX MONTHS or MORE. (NOTE,
REMOVALS OR TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FOR EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT MUST RESULT FROM A
NEED THAT EXTENDS FOR THE DURATION, OR AT LEAST A SIGNIFICANT PORTION, OF THE
MEMBERS ABSENCE ON DEPLOYMENT. THERE MAY BE CASES WHERE CIRCUMSTANCES
ARISE WHICH COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN BY THE FAMILY AND REQUIRE FAMILY
SUPPORT. THESE SITUATIONS WOULD BE LIMITED TO COMPELLING CIRCUMSTANCES
SUCH AS THE ILLNESS OF DEPENDANTS OR SIMILAR).
10.
PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE UP TO SEVEN DAYS INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
MAY BE GRANTED BY UNIT COMMANDERS DEPENDING ON THE OPERATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS. A MEMBER MAY BE GRANTED FREE TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA
TO their HOME LOCATION WHEN PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE IS GRANTED. IF A
RECREATION LEAVE FREE TRAVEL ENTITLEMENT EXISTS THIS IS TO BE USED IN
LIEU. AS AN ALTERNATIVE, SPOUSES, CHILDREN, PARENTs, SIBLINGS OR ANY
OTHER PERSON(S) NOMINATED BY THE MEMBER MAY BE APPROVED TO BE CONVEYED AT
PUBLIC EXPENSE TO THE MEMBERS LOCATION PROVIDING THE COST DOES NOT EXCEED THAT
WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN EXPENDED IF PRE-EMBARKATION LEAVE AND PRE-EMBARKATION
LEAVE TRAVEL HAD BEEN AVAILABLE TO THE MEMBER.
REMOVALS FOR MWD
11.
REMOVALS FOR MWD. THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS ARE AVAILABLE (NORMALLY tHERE MUST BE A
REMAINING DEPLOYMENT TENURE OF SIX MONTHS AT THE TIME THE REMOVAL IS EFFECTED):
A.
LEAVE DEPENDANTS IN CURRENT POSTING LOCATION AND REMAIN IN EXISTING SERVICE
RESIDENCE OR CONTINUE TO RECEIVE RA, AS APPLICABLE.
B.
WHERE THE DHA LOCAL HMC MANAGER IS SATISFIED (AND IF NECESSARY IN CONSULTATION
WITH THE UNIT OC/CO) THERE IS A COMPELLING NEED FOR SUPPORT TO THE MEMBERS
DEPENDANT(S) FROM EXTENDED FAMILY, THE MEMBER IS ELIGIBLE FOR REMOVAL OF
DEPENDANT(S) TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION WITHIN AUSTRALIA WHERE FAMILY SUPPORT IS
AVAILABLE AND RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING REMOVAL ENTITLEMENTS:
(1). RELOCATION
OF DEPENDANTS. WHERE A REMOVAL ENTITLEMENT EXISTS THEN, ONCE DURING THE
DEPLOYMENT, THE MEMBER MAY RELOCATE DEPENDENT(S) AND THEIR PERSONAL EFFECTS AND
ONE MOTOR VEHICLE TO A LOCALITY WHERE EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT IS AVAILABLE AND CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN A HOME IN POSTING LOCALITY. NO HOUSING ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE IN
THE NEW LOCALITY. AN OFFSET OF THIS ENTITLEMENT IS AVAILABLE WHERE UP TO
TWO EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS may travel to the posting location. cost of
offset is limited to the amount of NORMAL DEPT liability for travel by two extended
family members from their home to thE location where the members dependants
live. OR
(2). LIMITED
REMOVAL OF THE DEPENDANTS PERSONAL EFFECTS (EXCLUDING FURNITURE) AND ONE MOTOR
VEHICLE TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION. STORAGE OF FURNITURE AND EFFECTS IN A
dha APPROVED STORAGE FACILITY AT POSTING LOCALITY. ON RETURN FROM
DEPLOYMENT, A SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL OF THESE EFFECTS FROM THE ELECTED DESTINATION
AND STORAGE FACILITY TO THE MEMBERS RESIDENCE. OR
(3). WHERE
SUITABLE HOUSING IS NOT AVAILABLE IN FAMILY SUPPORT LOCALITY, FULL REMOVAL TO
AN ELECTED DESTINATION AND ON RETURN FROM DEPLOYMENT, A SUBSEQUENT REMOVAL FROM
THE ELECTED DESTINATION TO THE MEMBERS POSTING LOCALITY.
(4). IN CASES
WHERE THE MEMBER IS APPROVED TO UNDERTAKE A REMOVAL, EITHER TO STORE OR TO THE
ELECTED DESTINATION, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE MEMBER WILL BE ALLOCATED
THE SAME ACCOMMODATION ON RETURN TO THE OLD POSTING LOCALITY.
C.
ALL COSTS FOR REMOVAL, STORAGE AND INSURANCE OF STORED ITEMS (IN A DHA APPROVED
STORAGE FACILITY) WILL BE MET AT PUBLIC EXPENSE FOR THE DURATION OF THE
DEPLOYMENT.
D.
SUBJECT TO OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTs PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT, TRAVEL FOR THE
DEPENDANTS AND THE MEMBER TO THE ELECTED DESTINATION IN AUSTRALIA AND RETURN
TRAVEL FOR THE MEMBER BACK TO THE CONCENTRATION AREA BY THE ENTITLED MEANS.
E. ON
RETURN FROM THE DEPLOYMENT, THE MEMBER may RECEIVE TRAVEL ASSISTANCE FROM THE
POINT OF ENTRY BACK INTO AUSTRALIA TO THE ELECTED DESTINATION AND SUBSEQUENT
TRAVEL FOR THE MEMBER AND DEPENDANTS TO THE MEMBERS POSTING LOCALITY BY THE
ENTITLED MEANS.
F.
DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE. FOR
OPTIONS 10.B.1 AND 10.B.2, REMOVAL TO AND
FROM FAMILY SUPPORT LOCALITY IS TO COUNT AS ONE COMPLETE REMOVAL FOR
DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE PURPOSES.
G. STORAGE
COSTS OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR LOSS ON SALE Of ONE VEHICLE AND ONE TOWABLE ITEM.
H.
TEMPORARY ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE.
I.
RA FOR DEPENDANTS RESIDING IN
ACCOMMODATION AT THE ELECTED DESTINATION DURING THE PERIOD OF DEPLOYMENT, AND
ANY OTHER NORMAL REMOVAL ALLOWANCE WITHIN AUSTRALIA AS APPLICABLE.
12. FOR
SINGLE PARENT MWD WHO DEPLOY OR WHERE BOTH PARENTS ARE ADF MEMBERS AND ARE
DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME, A REMOVAL OF FURNITURE AND/OR EFFECTS TO STORAGE
WILL BE APPROVED, IF REQUIRED. THIS INCLUDES TRAVEL OF CHILDREN TO AN
APPROPRIATE LOCALITY within australia FOR THE PURPOSE OF EXTENDED FAMILY
SUPPORT AND STORAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND A TOWABLE ITEM.
13.
REMOVAL/TRAVEL PROVISIONS ARE LIMITED TO TRAVEL WITHIN AUSTRALIA. if THE
REQUIREMENT FOR EXTENDED FAMILY SUPPORT is recognised and A MEMBER OR DEPENDANT
REQUESTS TRAVEL TO AN OVERSEAS DESTINATION, ASSISTANCE IS LIMITED TO THE COST
OF TRAVEL by the entitled means to and from the international terminal in
australia nearest the members locality of posting from which a flight departs
to the overseas locality.
14.
REMOVALS FOR MWOD
A.
FOR THE MEMBER LIVING IN –
REMOVAL OF PERSONAL EFFECTS FROM THE LIVING-IN ACCOMMODATION TO A dha APPROVED
STORE.
B.
FOR MEMBERS LIVING OUT -
REMOVAL OF FURNITURE AND EFFECTS TO A dha APPROVED STORE. DEFENCE WILL BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR TERMINATION OF LEASE COSTS RESULTING FROM EARLY TERMINATION OF
LEASES. CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS CAN BE ALLOWED (PACMAN 17.7.13 PARA2 REFERS)
WHERE IT IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO THE CWEALTH FOR THE MEMBER TO RETAIN ACCOM
OR WHERE IT IS NOT PRACTICAL TO VACATE OR SHORT NOTICE.
C.
STORAGE OR LOSS ON SALE OF A
VEHICLE AND A TOWABLE ITEM MAY BE PAYABLE. STORAGE OF MOTOR VEHICLE AND TOWABLE
ITEM SHOULD BE ARRANGED ON BASE WHEREVER PRACTICAL. WHERE THIS IS NOT
POSSIBLE, STORAGE MAY BE ARRANGED AT PUBLIC EXPENSE at A dha approved storage
facility.
D.
MEMBERS VEHICLE MAY BE
REMOVED TO AN ELECTED DESTINATION FOR STORAGE (EG. PARENTS LOCALITY). IF
THIS OCCURS, THE MEMBER MAY BE REIMBURSED THE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH REMOVING a
VEHICLE TO AND FROM THE ELECTED DESTINATION. THE LIMITATION OF COSTS IS
UP TO THE VALUE OF THE STORAGE OF THE VEHICLE in a DHA approved facility FOR
THE DURATION OF THE DEPLOYMENT.
E.
DISTURBANCE ALLOWANCE.
REMOVAL TO AND FROM STORE IS TO COUNT AS ONE COMPLETE REMOVAL FOR DISTURBANCE
ALLOWANCE PURPOSES.
RELIEF OUT OF COUNTRY TRAVEL FARES
ASSISTANCE (ROCTFA)
15. FOR
DEPLOYMENTS OF SIX MONTHS OR LONGER, ROCTFA MAY BE APPROVED SUBJECT TO
OPERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS AND IS PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TAKING OF AT
LEAST FIVE DAYS RECREATION LEAVE. ONE ROCTFA ENTITLEMENT MAY BE APPROVED
WHERE DEPLOYMENT IS SIX MONTHS BUT LESS THAN NINE MONTHS. FOR DEPLOYMENTS
EXCEEDING NINE MONTHS REFER TO PACMAN V2-17.7.22.
16. THE ROCTFA
DESTINATION For MWD IS AUSTRALIA AND IS limited to the previous posting
locality or alternatively the location to which the family has been moved at
public expense. For MWOD the destination is AUSTRALIA AND IS limited to
the previous posTing location or alternatively the reported locality of the NOK
for recreation leave free travel purposes. There is no offset for
this entitlement.
COORDINATING INSTRUCTIONS
17.
EXCHANGE PERSONNEL. PERS FROM OTHER FORCES ON EXCHANGE WITH
THE ADF AND DEPLOYED TO OP ASTUTE HAVE NO ENTITLEMENT TO THE ADF DEPLOYMENT
PACKAGE.
19.
QUESTIONS. ALL QUERIES REGARDING COS ENTITLEMENTS ARE TO BE FORWARDED
THROUGH THE NORMAL CHAIN OF COMMAND.
UNCLASSIFIED